Commercial

Commercial Potential
(The figures in this document are open to comment from all sources.)

Hazel coppice has great economic potential. The identified need is for quality commercial hazel coppice. One method to identify potential financial return is to base the value on one of the main products, hurdles. Jonathan Howe has classified hazel coppice into four grades. Grading coppice was based on three main factors:

– Stool Density, usually between 400-800 stools per acre.
– Number of rods per stool which can be as many as 60+.
– Quality of the rods – minimum of 7 ft straight lengths up to 10 – 15 ft.

Grade 1

12,000 plus rods per acre with a yield of over 75% usable over waste should produce 1800 ft of hurdle

Grade 2

8,000 plus rods per acre with a yield of over 60% usable over waste should produce 1200 ft of hurdle

Grade 3

4,000 plus rods per acre with a yield of over 50% usable over waste should produce 600 ft of hurdle

Grade 4

Less than 4,000 plus rods per acre with a yield of less than 40% usable rods

Value per acre

Feet of hurdle

Value / foot

Grade 1

£9000

1800

£5

Grade 2

£6000

1200

£5

Grade 3

£3000

600

£5

Grade 1 hazel coppice has the ability to provide £9,000 worth per acre, of hurdle alone. Other products can be made from the ‘waste’ which adds further value. Another method of accessing financial potential is to value the rods cut from the stool before additional value is added by turning them into other products. The average value determined for a single stool is £12 with the maximum being £18. There is a need for more investigation of these values.